Lifehouse Momentum- part 4

Thought ya'll would like to see some of the ideas we're tossing around for renovating the front elevation of the cinema building.

Here's our first draft drawing for renovating. Since this design, we've started putting our focus more on the entrance area rather than the exit. I'm simply posting this image to give you an idea of the quality and excellence with which we are planning to renovate the property.

Lifehouse MOMENTUM- part 3

How can YOU partner with us?

Our goal is to quickly turn around this facility so that when the Grand Opening date arrives,  both Leitersburg Cinema, LLC and Lifehouse Church East will generate excitement and positive feedback from the community.  Since the Grand Opening date is only months away, we must quickly raise the resources to begin renovations immediately.

What's exciting is that we'll see immediate impact on the investment we are making in God's Kingdom.

This is your opportunity to join us in partnering both in prayer and giving. You may also consider volunteering time to work on a crew to help renovate.  

If you are interested, please consider maing 18-MONTH Pledge by emailing us at info@lifehousechurcheast.org or turning a pledge card on Sunday June 7th or by mail.

We are asking that you would consider making an initial sacrificial offering on Sunday, June 7th, and then give a monthly pledge over the next 18-months. Also, we strongly encourage you to pass this email, letter, or blog post along, to those you believe will be willing to partner with Lifehouse in this bold adventure.

Our hope is that Exodus 36 will come alive at Lifehouse as you and our church family join in what God is doing:

“…the people continued to bring freewill offerings morning after morning. So all the skilled craftsmen who were doing all the work on the sanctuary left their work and said to Moses, “The people are bringing more than enough for doing the work the Lord commanded to be done.”  Then Moses gave an order and they sent this word throughout the camp: “No man or woman is to make anything else as an offering for the sanctuary.” And so the people were restrained from bringing more, because what they already had was more than enough to do all the work.”

We covet your earnest prayers and generous giving. I can assure you that we will keep our focus on sharing and showing Jesus’ love to our community, and this building will be a tool to advance the Cause of Christ.

We are grateful for your financial support of Lifehouse and are encouraged by your confidence in our ministry. May God bless you abundantly!

Fired up!

P.S. For more information about the renovation project or your 18-Month Pledge, please call our church office at 301-824-4656.

Lifehouse MOMENTUM- part 2

In February, we learned that the Hagerstown 10 Cinema complex was going up for auction, and we immediately called our church to prayer. During that season, we fasted, prayed, and waited. As we waited, we didn’t feel led to bid on the property.

On March 17th, the auction came and went with no buyer. That day, the owners asked us to consider purchasing the property. I read Joshua 3:2-5 that morning:

“When you see the ark of the covenant of the Lord your God… you are to move out from your positions and follow it. Then you will know which way to go, since you have never been this way before. But keep a distance of about a thousand yards between you and the ark; do not go near it.”  Joshua told the people, “Consecrate yourselves, for tomorrow the Lord will do amazing things among you.”

In the past, I have been reluctant to lead the church to own or buy a building.  This was for several reasons:

• Most church buildings consume the bulk of the church’s resources (over 50%),
  
• Ministry events and gatherings begin to gravitate toward the building rather than toward the community,
  
• The community and the believers begin to identify the term “church” as a building rather than a people.
  

I did not want the ownership of a building to hinder Lifehouse’s focus on the community. So in the past, I have explained to our leadership team that we would own a building only if ministry was hindered by not having a building, and if our resources would not be tied up in the facility.

Thankfully, God orchestrated a business plan that would not only enhance our impact in the community, but it would not burden the church financially.  Between March and May, we prayed and negotiated with the owners, and on May 15th, we signed a lease-to-buy agreement.

The miraculous part of the story is that Joe and Lois Quesenberry, our congregational pastors, prayed over this very property back in 1978.  At the time, the theater was a sordid business, even showing X-rated movies to families.  The Quesenberry’s prayed that the property would be redeemed and used for the glory of God. 

Here's a video of their story:

Who knew that 30 years later, they would be ministering at the very church that would occupy the property!

Details and Business Plan for the Cinema Complex

The owners had a $2.8 million contract on the property two years ago but declined the offer.

Our final agreement: 

• Beginning June 1, 2009, Lifehouse will lease the cinema complex for one-year for $3,000 monthly.  This amount is nearly equal to what we currently spend leasing the theater on Sunday mornings and using office space elsewhere.
  
• At the end of the one-year lease, we have a guaranteed option-to-buy the 7.2 acres of the cinemas and parking area for $838,000 (what owners owe on it).
  
• Also in the lease, after two years, we have a second option-to-buy the additional 11.6 acres for $892,000. (Giving us room to expand.)
  
• Hagerstown Cinema 10, the current theater company renting the facility simultaneously with Lifehouse, will operate in the building as usual until the end of August.
  
• Leitersburg Cinemas, LLC (a new theater company) will occupy the cinemas beginning in October in a separate lease agreement with the owner. Their lease will be $7,000 monthly, plus 95% of utilities.
  
• During our one-year lease, our use of the building will increase significantly, and we will be able to renovate and use office space on the second floor.
• At the end of our one-year lease, we will purchase the cinema complex and discontinue making payments of $3000 monthly. Then, as the owners, we will continue to lease the building to Leitersburg Cinemas, LLC to cover the full mortgage and additonal costs.
• The income from Leitersburg Cinema, LLC will cover all mortgage costs, nearly 95% of utility costs, and the company has additionally agreed to tithe 10% of their profits to Lifehouse.
  
• Additionally, Leitersburg Cinemas, LLC is owned and managed by a Christian businessman at Lifehouse, who has agreed to operate the cinemas as a family-oriented business.   The cinemas will NOT show R-rated movies, and will create a very family-friendly environment.
  

To summarize, Lifehouse will have the benefit of owning the building without the financial burden.  Because the building will continue to operate as a theater, Lifehouse will continue to focus on the community, and the church will continue to be viewed as a people rather than a building.  Our hope is that Lifehouse Church East and Leitersburg Cinemas, LLC will be able to work together to use the theater property for God’s glory.

Renovating the Cinema Complex

To make this endeavor successful, our part is to renovate the building to make it a highly visible, attractive facility.  In doing this, we will increase the impact of our church, and attract business to Leitersburg Cinemas LLC. 

• October 1, 2009 is the target date for a Grand Opening of Leitersburg Cinemas LLC and the new Lifehouse Church East building.  Our initial phase of renovations must be complete by that date.
  
• The initial phase of renovations include: new bathrooms, roof repairs, new lobby and café area, cosmetic exterior improvements, landscaping, parking lot sealing and relining.
  
• By December 2009, we hope to renovate 2nd floor office space for Lifehouse.
  
• By April 2010, we hope to finish the exterior structural renovations.
  
• Total cost for renovations are estimated at $550,000. 

Lifehouse MOMENTUM- part 1

The last several months have been very eventful and exciting at Lifehouse Church East. I’d like to take this opportunity to give you an update, and invite you to partner with us as we boldly step forward in God’s plans for our church. Please take a few minutes to read this letter and give us your heartfelt response and prayers.

Our Cause

Lifehouse exists to reach up to worship God, reach in to develop relationships and devoted Jesus-followers, and reach out to share God’s love with our world.

When Laura and I moved to Hagerstown, we believe God gave us Joshua 1:3-9 as a promise. Here are a few key verses:

“I will give you every place where you set your foot… Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you…”

 As I’ve jogged around our city and prayed, I’m pursuaded that God has called us to reach this entire region with the powerful message of Jesus. We won’t stop until we have shared and showed God’s love with everyone possible.

Our Growing impact in the Hagerstown-area

April marked our four-year anniversary of launching Lifehouse on Sunday mornings with 24 people. Since then, we’ve grown to nearly 400 in regular attendance and have seen over 1000 people make a decision to follow Jesus. We’ve served our community in various outreaches, including being the point church for Hagerstown Convoy of Hope in 2008 and again this year on September 26. Last year we coordinated with over 120 local churches and organizations to feed and give groceries to over 2500 people in our community.

Called to Thrive

In late 2008, I felt strongly challenged by God that Lifehouse would “thrive” in ’09.  I invited our church to participate in an “Isaiah 58 Fast,” referencing verses 11-12:

“You’ll be like a well-watered garden, a gurgling spring that never runs dry. You’ll use the old rubble of past lives to build anew, rebuild the foundations from out of your past. You’ll be known as those who can fix anything, restore old ruins, rebuild and renovate, make the community livable again.”

From that fast, God revealed what it would mean for our church to “thrive:”

• Lifehouse Church East would thrive and spread out in our community.  We would see significant impact and flourish at the theater property.
  
• We would facilitate unity among other area churches and work together to build The Church in this region, even send leaders out to help other churches.
  
• We would plant two churches in the next three years, and we are currently developing these church planters.
  

Check out this video we created explaining THRIVE:

St. Patrick

Thought I'd give you all the St. Patrick videos that we did for this sermon series. 

Just a note: these are parodies, and meant to illustrate how often we do lack character. There funny, but all to accurate depiction of our own tension between living more like Jesus.

Episode 1: Faithfulness means keeping our word.

So, here goes. St. Patrick: the life of a "perfect" pastor.

Episode 2: Kindness means lifting others up.

Episode 3: Patience means waiting for what God wants.


Check out www.lifehousechurcheast.org to listen to the sermons and discover how to grow in these areas of character.